Chapter 6

The builder reddened. Phoebe glanced between them. Mr. Meer's voice remained calm."The January repair did not address the water's path. It patched the visible damage."Mr. Gibbs turned on Phoebe. "I did what I was paid to do.""And perhaps less than you were paid to do," Mr. Meer said.Mr. Gibbs took a step forward. Phoebe moved between them before she had considered the wisdom of doing so."Gentlemen," she said with a brightness that held steel beneath it, "the ceiling is cracked already. Must we add the floor?"Mr. Gibbs muttered and withdrew. Mr. Meer watched him leave."You have courage, Miss Hartwell.""I have accounts to settle with him. Courage is merely impatience dressed well."He looked amused.They spent the rest of the morning reviewing the old ledgers. Phoebe sat at her uncle's desk while Mr. Meer stood beside her, turning pages with careful hands."Here," she said. "Roof repairs, January, paid to Gibbs and Son, £12.""For work worth perhaps four.""You cannot know that.""I can suspect it with confidence."She turned another page. "There were also payments approved by the improvement subcommittee.""Who sits on it?""Sir Lionel, Mr. Grindel, Mr. Atwood, and Alderman Voss."At the last name, Mr. Meer's expression sharpened. "Voss has an interest in new development," he said."Yes.""He spoke to me this morning."Phoebe stilled. "Did he?""He suggested that my reputation would profit more from designing a modern building than repairing an old one.""And what did you say?""I said reputations built on unnecessary destruction tend to crack."Phoebe looked down quickly, but not before smiling.By afternoon, the committee assembled in the card room. Mr. Meer presented his findings with admirable clarity: the building needed urgent work, but it could be saved. The roof must be made sound, the ceiling shored and repaired, the gallery strengthened, and portions of the plaster restored by skilled craftsmen.

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